A thousand years from now…

My brother and I both like anime. When it comes to recommending movies to one another, we seem to be able to tell what the other one will like. When my brother recommended this movie to me, I already had it in my NetFlix queue.

The movie takes place on Earth about a thousand years after a cataclysm in which several giant warriors destroyed most of the planet. What’s left of humanity is divided into several kingdoms, one of which is the Valley of the Wind. Nausicaä is a princess in said kingdom, but often travels looking for a way to survive. There’s what’s called The Toxic Jungle, which is unfriendly to human life. The problem is that it’s spreading.

Everyone wants to destroy The Toxic Jungle, but everyone who has tried has failed. Nausicaä also knows that it’s not that simple. There are large, insect-like creatures called Ohmu that protect the Jungle. Normally, they’re peaceful, but will occasionally go into a rage and can wreak havoc on entire cities.

One day, a ship crashes in The Valley of the Wind. It’s a Tormekian ship carrying a special cargo. Most of the passengers die immediately, but other Tormekians show up to claim the cargo. They end up taking over The Valley of the Wind. They have a foolproof plan to wipe out The Toxic Jungle.

There is a dominant environmental theme to the movie. I didn’t find it to be overwhelming, but I could see some people being turned off by it. Nausicaä has a great deal of respect for nature and would prefer not to destroy the jungle. At the very least, she can recognize that it’s going to be very difficult. By the end of the movie, she realizes that it’s more complicated than that.

Normally, I go with the original audio and use the English subtitles. In this case, I decided to use the English audio. I found out that there are several actors that I liked, such as Patrick Stewart and Edward James Olmos, who appeared in the English version.

There was even a feature on the actors who did the English voices and what it was like for them to work on the movie. NetFlix had a separate bonus disc available, but most of the features were available on the main disc. The only exception was the storyboards, which were presented with the audio part of the movie. I’d recommend just getting the main disc.

This is the first work by director Hayao Miyazaki. I first became aware of him through one of his other movies, Spirited Away. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind has an older look to it, but is still a great movie. I’m actually going to rent some of his other films. As for this one, I’d give it four of five stars.



Spirited Away:
http://www.epinions.com/content_183877406340

NetFlix:
http://www.epinions.com/content_142673350276